Sunday, September 26, 2010

Bonhomme II: Suggested Future Macleans Cover: Use Stampede to Symbolise Canada's Most Corrupt Province - Alberta, Obviously

For anglos, it just occurred to me I should mention I take for granted Macleans' own cynicism in being outrageous to sell mags, but then that's the media, from time eternal. Largely inured to it, unless outright racist, etc.. ("send 'em back! Lock 'n load!" etc.). Maybe given some pre-existing attitudes hither and thither, often encouraged by lazy bad journalism, understandable that some chez nous might be honestly upset. Tough to be a minority and often feel full story, and one's side of it, isn't being told among majority.

I would also note that I am almost sure that Alberta is the most corrupt province, really, for what it's worth. If I told you a state, any state, had been ruled by the same party for 40 YEARS, I think we might agree that it was majorly messed up, ethically, politically, and so corrupt that the corruption had been institutionalised to the extent that it was now so completely woven into life that it had become accepted and unremarked, as judged unremarkable by the denizens - "that's just how things work, eh? Give 'er." That's what happened/happens in those consociationalist European states, Switzerland, Belgium, CDU Germany back in the day, etc.. If Macleans wanted to do some good, it would do a big issue on the omnipresent and hence "invisible" corruption within Alberta. In Quebec we have inquiries, scandals, changes of government, angry media, etc.. And in Alberta? Crickets. Pleasingly placid acquiescence in God's land. "Aaw, don't be mean, Bob's a good guy, and so are Dave and Bill, and what's good for Oil is good for Alberta, and so don't rock the boat. Why, that would unAlbertan! Socialist! Communist! Etc."

But I doubt we'll see such an issue - I gather Macleans sells rather more copies in Alberta than in QC, doesn't it? Or am I wrong?

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